Summary

  • England take three wickets in evening session but NZ edge day three

  • NZ openers put on 149 before Leach has Conway caught at bat pad

  • Latham follows soon after for 83, lbw to Root

  • Leach bowls Young with superb delivery

  • England enforce follow-on with NZ 226 runs behind

  • NZ following-on at home for first time since 2010

  1. Postpublished at 05:21 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    David Gower
    Ex-England captain on BT Sport

    James Anderson, Stuart BroadImage source, Getty Images

    All of England's seam bowlers are wicketless today, which is a little unusual. Can one of Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad or James Anderson change that in the final 10 minutes?

  2. new ball

    New ballpublished at 05:19 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    England have taken the new ball and Ollie Robinson is going to get first use of it.

  3. NZ 196-3published at 80 overs

    Another maiden from Leach and the second new ball is now available.

    Time enough to squeeze in three overs?

  4. Postpublished at 05:17 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Shouldn't be assumed that all pitches are harder to bat on the longer a game goes on, Anon. Some flatten out and historically the Basin Reserve has been one of those.

    England are still in a very strong position so they won't be ruing their decision yet.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:15 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Making a side follow on is vastly over-rated. Bowlers need rest to be most productive. Also fourth/fifth day pitch harder to bat on. I wanted to write this four hours ago. England should have knocked up 250 and made the Black Caps battle to 500 on last two days.

    Anon

  6. NZ 196-3published at 79 overs

    Trail by 30 (F/O)

    Looking at the shadows out in the middle at the Basin Reserve, I'm now wondering whether England's seamers will even be allowed to bowl with the second new ball?

    They're unlikely to get anymore than two or three overs with it tonight.

  7. NZ 195-3published at 78 overs

    Williamson 22, Nicholls 14

    Just a single from Leach's latest. That's 29 overs in the innings for the left-arm spinner, he's done a very good job for England today.

    Two more until the new cherry.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:10 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Text 81111

    The one silver lining to having your five-year-old vomiting at 4am is the ability to get an early morning cricket update. Nice to see some Black Cap resistance.

    Harry in Bristol

  9. NZ 194-3published at 77 overs

    Just one from Root's over, the England spinners are still posing a threat with the old ball.

    Three overs until the new one is available.

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:07 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Text 81111

    NichollsImage source, Getty Images

    If New Zealand continue to bat at their current run rate of 2.69 per over, and manage to bat out the rest of today, all of tomorrow and then to lunch on Day five, that will leave England some 325 to get in two sessions. Would you bet against this England side scoring 325 in 60 overs? I wouldn't.

    Steve in Wantage

  11. Not outpublished at 76.1 overs

    NZ 193-3

    Nope. Plenty of turn and bounce for Root but it flicked the arm guard rather than the glove.

    England lose a review.

  12. Postpublished at 05:06 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    David Gower
    Ex-England captain on BT Sport

    Has that brushed something on the way through? England are desperately seeking a couple more wickets tonight.

  13. England reviewpublished at 76.1 overs

    AppealImage source, Getty Images

    Big appeal from Ben Foakes as Root gets one to turn sharply back into Williamson.

    Did it flick the glove? Ben Stokes sends it upstairs to check.

  14. NZ 193-3published at 76 overs

    Trail by 33 (F/O)

    Having got himself in trouble lunging forward to Leach, Nicholls plays the spinner off the back foot in this over.

    That brings different issues but he gets through the over. A maiden.

  15. NZ 193-3published at 75 overs

    Trail by 33 (F/O)

    Joe Root is back as England look to get through these last few overs with the old ball quickly.

    Nicholls edges again, outside edge this time, and Stokes makes a good stop at second slip.

    Five from the over, five overs until the second new ball is available. Half an hour left in the day.

  16. NZ 188-3published at 74 overs

    Nicholls is living a charmed life - especially against Jack Leach.

    Again he pushes forward, again the inside edge is found and this time the ball loops up off the pad and just over Pope's left shoulder.

    The England fielder is disappointed not to have got a hand to that. It's another one that goes down as 'would've been a stunner!'

  17. NZ 185-3published at 73 overs

    Trail by 41 (F/O)

    Just a couple of singles from Robinson's over.

    The England seamer is getting some decent bounce and goes at Nicholls with a couple of short balls.

    The batter takes on the second of them but his bat connects with nothing but fresh air.

    Ollie Robinson's bowling in this innings: 0% full, 81% good length and 19% short. 13 overs, 3 maidens, went for 29 runs, took 0 wickets with an economy of 2.23.
  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 04:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    #bbccricket

    Mento5: Alastair Cook channelling his inner Geoff Boycott with the "add two wickets" comment. Must be an opening batter kind of thing.

  19. NZ 183-3published at 72 overs

    Maiden from Leach. No scares for Nicholls this time around.

    Eight overs until the second new balls, more than 50 minutes left in the day. England should get a couple of overs with it before stumps.

  20. NZ 183-3published at 71 overs

    Robinson gets the ball to pop from just back of a length and Nicholls is rapped on the gloves.

    New Zealand are thankful to see the ball go safely into a gap on the leg side. It could have gone anywhere!